Clicking-machine.



0. ASHTON. DECD.

H. ASHTON. EXECUTRIX.

CLICKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. l3, I9l6.

1 ,206,078. Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OBRELL ASHTON, DECEASED, LATE OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, BY HANNAH ASHTON, EXECUTRIX, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CLICKING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 19.16.

Application filed March 13, 1916. Serial No. 83,882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that ORRELL Asn'ron, deceased, late of Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, invented certain Improvements in Clicking- Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for dieing out blanks from sheet material, and particularl to machines of the type known as the clic ing machine, which is used for dieing out uppers in the manufacture of boots and shoes, in which, as usually constructed, a cutting bed and a die operating member, herein termed a presser member, are relatively movable to different positions for operatingupon thedie on different portions of the bed and are relatively movable also to cause the die to cut the stock on the bed.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which shall operate smoothly and effectively with the expenditure of but little power.

To this end, a feature of the invention consists in the combination of a presser-member movable to different positions over the bed and toggle connections for effecting a die operating movement of the presser member in any position of the member over the bed. In the construction herein shown resistance to the reaction of the presser memberin the cutting operation is afforded by an arm which is movable with the presser member over the bed but is stationary during the operative movement of the presser member, the arm constituting an abutment for the operating toggles. This arrangement contributes to the ease of operation of the machine, since the presser member itself may be of comparatively light construction without detracting from the effectiveness of its action upon the die.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a clicking machine which shall be more positive and certain 1n its action upon the die than prior machines of this v for different portions of structed, the presser member is mounted to swing about an axis at the rear of the bed and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed, and is thus movable to different posltlons corresponding to different locations of the die with respect to the bed, and to one side or the other to afford an unob- 'structed view of the stock in placing the die. In such machines there is a tendency the presser member to yield unequally in the cutting operation, the tendencv to yield being more marked near the outer projecting end of the member.' In consequence the presser member is less certain and positive in its action upon the die near its outer projecting end than it is at portions nearer its line of support. This is due to various causes, chief among which is the tendency for the frame of the machine, however strongly it may be constructed within practical limits, to spring or bend a large die, such as a vamp die, is in use, since one portion of the die may be located on that portion of the bed where the range of yielding movement of the presser member is comparatively small and another portion may be in osition to be operated upon by the outer free end of the presser member which has a comparatively wide range of yielding movement. In order to lessen the difficulty it is customary to raise slightly the front of the cutting block oriotherwise cause the surface of the block to slope somewhat toward that portion of the frame which supports the presser member. From this procedure, however, arises the further difiiculty that no adjustment can be made which will cause the machine to operate with equally effective results upon dies that vary widely in size. In the common type of clicking machine, moreover, in which the presser member is mounted to swing about a vertical axis at the rear of the bed, raising the front of the cutting block obviously will not cause the presser member to operate-upon the die in the mostefi'ective manner when it is swung toward one side of the bed, since with the presser member in such a position the slope of the block is transversely rather than longitudinally of the member.

With the; object of avoiding the above mentioned 'difficulties this invention provides a construction in which the presser member is substantially equally effective upon all portions of the die whatever the size of the die may be or wherever the die may be located upon the bed. To this end,

tendency for the respective portions of the presser member to yield in the cutting operation. In the construction herein shown the operating means comprises toggles connected respectively to the inner and outer end portions of the presser member, the arms of the toggle connection at the outer end of the presser member forming a. smaller angle with each other than the arms of the other toggle connection so that upon substantially equal movements of the knee joints of the toggles the outer ends of the arms of the outer toggle will have a greater relative movement than the outer ends of the arms of the other toggle, thus compensating for the relatively greater yield of the outer end portion of the presser member.

The above and other features of the invention, including certain details of con-" struction and combinations of parts, Wlll now be described with reference to the 210- companying drawing and pointed out in the claims.

The drawing is a view in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a machine in which the invention is embodied.

The machine comprises a frame 2 supporting in a horizontal position upon its front portion a cutting block or bed 4 and provided at the rear of the cutting block with a socket 6 to receive the lower end of a post 8 which extends vertically upward through an opening in the upper portion of the frame. A gib 10 extending from the post 8 through a slot in the frame serves to prevent the post from turning and also frtm rising in the socket 6. Mounted to turn upon the post 8 isan arm 12 from the upper portion of- Which a sleeve extension 14 encircling the post projects through a bearing 16 in the top of the frame 2. The post 8 has a threaded bore in its upper end to receive the threaded shank 18 of an adjusting member 20 which is provided with a collar 22 to support a cap 24 secured to the upper end of the sleeve 14. As the member 20, therefore, is turned one way or the other by means of a hand wheel 26, the sleeve 14 and the arm 12 are raised or lowcred, the sleeve and the arm being supported upon the collar 22. Upward movement of the cap 24, and consequently of the sleeve 14 and the arm 12, relatively to the member 20 and the post 8 is prevented by a flange 28 on the member 20 which overlies a portion of the cap 24. The arm 12 is thus swiveled on the post 8 and the member 20 for swinging movement over the cutting bed 4 in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the bed.

Pivotally suspended below the arm 12 on slides 30 that are movable in Vertical guideways in the arm, is a presser member 32 which comprises a plate of substantially the same length as the width of the bed 4 and of sufficient width to operate effectively upon the larger sizes of dies. The slides 30 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the lower arms of toggles 34 and 36, the upper arms of the toggles 34 and 36 being pivoted respectively on the arm 12 and on a block 38 which is mounted in a guideway 40 at the outer end of the arm. At their knee joints the toggles are provided with pivot pins 42 which extend into vertical slots 44 in an operating bar 46 which is slidable longitudinally of the arm 12 in the driving of the shaft 58 from the power shaft being effected through the provision of a one-revolution clutch 62 which may be of any suitable well known construction not illustrated herein in detail. The tripping of the clutch is effected through a lever 64 pivoted to the frame 2 andconnected to the clutch by a rod 66, the lever being held normally in inoperative position by means of a spring 68. The lever 64 has a part 70 loosely encircling the sleeve 14, and swiveled on this part is a ring 72 which is formed with a lug 74 bored to receive the end of a rod 76 which extends forwardly and downwardly through a guide 7 8 on the arm 12 and has at its lower end a T-shaped portion 80 which extends through an opening in the arm 12 and thus projects at opposite sides of the arm to permit the tripping of the clutch to be effected from either side. It Will be seen that with this construction the rod 76 may be swung with the arm 12 to any position over the bed, the ring 72 turning on the portion 70 of the lever 64, and the clutch may be tripped in any position of the arm through the depression of the handle 80.

In the drawing only one side of themachine is in view, but it will be understood that on the opposite side of the'arm 12 the construction seen in the drawing is substantially duplicated, the connection to the outer end of the presser member 32 comprising two toggles 36, one on either side of the arm 12 and the connection to the inner end of the presser member similarly comprising two toggles 34, and the bar 46 being forked to provide toggle operating portions slidable on opposite sides of the arm 12. The upper arms of both toggles 36 are pivoted to the block 38.

From the preceding description it will be apparent that the presser member 32 is upheld by the toggle connections 34 and 36, which are supported respectively at their upper ends by the arm 12 and the block 38;

and that the position of the presser member depends upon the positions of the lmee joints of the toggles which are determlned in turn by the position of the bar 46 through the engagement of the pins 42 m the vertical slots 44 in the bar. In the drawing the parts are shownin their idle positions, the eccentric 52 having been stopped with its h1gh point at the rear so as to elevate the presser member 32 above the die a on thebed The stopping of the eccentric in this POSI- tion is effected through the automatic disconnection of the clutch 62 and preferably also through the application of a brake to the counter shaft, as is usual in machines of this class.

In the operation of the machine the arm 12 is first swung, as by means of a handle 82, to position the presser member 32 over the die a wherever the die may be placed upon the stock on the cutting bed,4, and the handle 80 is then depressed to trip the clutch. A single revolution of the eccentric 52 follows, during the first half of which the toggles 34 and 36 are forced toward straightened position, thereby moving the slides 30 downwardly and causing the presser member 32 to force the die through the stock. During this operation the pivot pins 42 are permitted to move downwardly relatively to the bar 46 through the provision of the slots 44 in the bar. the toggle arms, both at the knee joints of the toggles and at the outer ends of the arms, is taken up, it will be observed, by substantially semi-circular thrust bearings which relieve the pivots from excessive strain. During the second half revolution of the eccentric 52 the parts are returned to the positions in which they are shown in the drawing.

It will be noted, by reference to the drawing, that the arms of the toggle 36 form a smaller angle with each other than the arms of the toggle 34, and that the toggle 36 is so disposed relativelyto the toggle 34 that the front end of the presser member is slightly The end thrust of under the resistance of the die in the cutting operation, as hereinbefore explained. The outer end portion of the presser member 32 will thus be moved farther relatively to the arm 12 than the inner or rear end portion.. The range of movement of the outer end portion may be varied by changing the angular relation to each other of the arms of the toggle connection 36 through adjustment of the block 38 in the curved guideway 40. The block may be adjusted, and is held in adjustedposition, by means of set screws 84. The height of the presser member 32 above the die should, for the best results, be so adjusted relatively to the inclination of the member and to the range of movement of the toggle connection 36 that when the presser member encounters the die its die engaging surface shall be substantially parallel to the plane of the bed and shall thus engage all portions of the die simultaneously and evenly. After such engagement of the presser member with the die the greater range of movement of the toggle connection 36 relatively to the connection 34 will compensate for the relatively greater tendency for the outer end portion of the arm 12 to yield in the cutting operation. All portions of the die will thus be -subjected to substantially equal pressures in the cutting operation, whatever may be the size of the die in use, and since the axis of movement of the arm 12 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of'the bed 4, the effect upon the die will be the same wherever the die may be placed upon the bed.

Although in the construction herein shown the provision for different ranges of movement of the operating connections for the presser member is effected by arranging the respective toggles with their arms in different angular relations, it should be understood that various expedients may be adopted for effecting the same result, and that in this as well as other respects various detailed embodiments of the invention are comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A machine of-the class described comto the arm to effect a cutting operation, said operating means being constructed and arranged to effect a greater relative movement between the arm and one end of said member than between the arm and the other end of said member.

2. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm supported at one side of the bed and projecting over the bed, a presser member supported by said arm and projecting over the bed, and operating means for moving said member relativelyto the arm to effect a cutting operation, said operating means being constructed and arranged to effect a greater relative movement between the arm and the outer projecting end of the presser member than between the arm and the other end of said member.

A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm supported at one side of the bed and projecting over the bed, a presser member supported by said arm, and operating means for moving said member relatively to the arm to effect a cutting operation, said means comprising connections between different portions of said member and arm, said connections having different respective ranges of operative movement to compensate for the tendency for differentportions of the arm to yield unequally.

4. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm pivoted for movement over the bed about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed, a presser member carried by said arm and movable therewith to different positions corresponding to different locations of a die on the bed, and operating means for moving the presser member relatively to the arm to effect a cutting operation, said operating means comprising connections to different portions of the presser member and including a connection to that end of the presser member which is the more remote from the axis of said arm, said last named connection having a relatively greater range of operative movement to compensate for the tendency of the outer end of the arm to yield under resistance in the cutting operation.

5. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm supported at one end and movable over the bed to different positions corresponding to different locations of a die with respect to the bed, a presser member carried by said arm, and operating means for moving the presser member relatively to the arm to cause the die to cut the stock, said means comprising connections to opposite ends of the presser member, the connection to that end of said member which is the more remote from the point of support of said arm having a relatively greater range of operative movement to compensate for the tendency of the outer projecting end of the arm to yield under resistance in the cutting operation.

(3. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm supported at one side of the bed and projecting over the bed, a presser member supported by said arm, and operating means for moving the presser member relatively to the arm to effect a cutting operation, said means comprising connections to opposite ends of the presser member, the connection to that end of said member which is the more remote from the point of sup port of said arm having a relatively greater range of operative movement to compensate for the tendency of the outer projecting end of the arm to yield under resistance in the cutting operation, and means for adjusting the range of movement of said last named connectlon.

7. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm pivoted for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed to different positions corresponding to different locations of a die with respect to the bed, a presser member carried by said arm, and operating means for moving the presser member relatively to the arm to cause the die to cut the stock, said means comprising connections to the presser member constructed and arranged to effect a greater movement relatively to the arm of that end of the presser member which is more remote from the axis of said arm than of that end of the presser member which is nearer said axis, said connections being relatively adjustable to vary the relative extent of movement of said remote end of the presser member.

8. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm pivoted for movement over the bed to different positions corresponding to different locations of a die with respect to the bed, a presser member carried by said arm, and operating means for moving opposite ends of the presser member different distances relatively to the arm to cause said member to force the die through the stock, said operating means being adjustable to vary the difference between the distances of movement of the opposite ends of the presser member. I

9. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member movable over the bed to different positions corresponding to different locations of a die with respect to the bed, and means for operating the presser member to cause the die to cut the stock, said means comprising connections to different portions of said presser member, said connections-having unequal ranges of operative movement to compensate for the tendency for different portions of the presser member to yield unequally under the resistance of the die.

10. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member arranged to project freely over the bed, and operating means for moving the presser member toward the bed to force a die through stock upon the bed, said operating means being constructed and arranged with reference to different portions of said presser member to cause said member to subject that side of the die which is operated upon by the outer projecting portion of the member to pres sure substantially equal to that applied to other portions of the die notwithstanding the tendency for different portions of said member to yield unequally under the resistance of the die.

11. A machine of'the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member movable about an axis substantially'perpendicular to the plane of the bed to different positions corresponding to different locations of a die with respect to the bed, and operating means constructed and arranged with reference to different portions of said presser member to cause said member to subject that side of the die which is more remote from said axis to pressure substantially equal to that applied to other portions of the die notwithstanding the tendency for different portions of said member to yield unequally under the resistance of the die.

12. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member arranged to pro ect freely over the bed, said member being posltloned normally with its outer projecting portion farther than other portions from the plane of the bed, and operating means for moving said member toward the cutting bed to force a die through stock upon the bed, said operating means comprising connectlons having unequal ranges of movement to cause said member to engage all portions of the die substantially simultaneously and then to subject all portions of the die to substantially uniform pressure notwithstanding the tendency for different portions of the member to yield unequally under the resistance of the die. I

13. A machine of the class described c0Inprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member movable about an axis at one side of the bed to different positions corresponding to different locations of a die with respect to the bed, the presser member being positioned normally with that end which is the more remote from said axis farcutting bed, and operating means constructed and arranged to bring-said member into a planesubstantially parallel to the plane of the bed at the time of engagement of the member with the die and then to cause said member to subject all portions of the die to substantially uniform pressure notwithstanding the tendency for different portions of said member to yield unequally under the resistance of the die.

14. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member arranged to project freely over the bed, and operating means for moving said member toward the bed to effect a cutting operation, said means including connections to different portions of the presser member having unequal ranges of operative movement and including provision for adjustment to vary the difference between the ranges of movement of different connections.

' 15. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm movable over the bed to different positions corresponding to different locations of a die with respect to the bed, a presser member carried by said arm, toggle connections for moving said member relatively to the arm to cause the die to cut the stock on the bed, and mechanism for operating said toggle connections in any position of the arm over the bed. 7

16. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm pivoted for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed to difl erent positions corresponding to different locations of a die with respect to the bed, a presser member carried by said arm, toggle connections for moving said member relatively to the arm to cause the die to cut the stock on the bed, and mechanism for-operating said toggle connections.

in any position of the arm over the bed.

17. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm pivoted for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed to different positions corresponding to different locations of a die with respect to the bed, a presser member carried by said arm, toggle connections for moving said member relatively to the arm to cause the die to cut the stock on the bed, an eccentric at the axis of said arm, and a bar movable longitudinally of the armand arranged to be operated by said eccentric for imparting operative movement to said toggle connections.

18. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member arranged to project freely over the bed, toggles for operating said presser member, and operating means for said toggles, the toggles having different ranges of effective movement to compensate for the tendency for diiierent portions of the presser member to yield unequally in the cutting operation.

19. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member for forcing a die through stock upon said bed, and means comprising toggles for operating said presser member, said toggles being constructed and arranged to move different portions of said presser member unequal distances toward the bed.

20. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member for forcing a die through stock 'llPOIl' said bed, and means comprising toggles connected respectively with opposite ends of said presser member for operating said member, said toggles having their arms disposed at'difi'erent angles to each other to cause different ranges of efiective movement of the toggles.

21. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member arranged to project freely over the bed, and means comprising toggles connected respectively to the inner and outer ends of said presser member for effecting operative movement of said member toward the bed, said toggles being relatively constructed and arranged to effect a relatively greater movement of the outer projecting end of the presser member to compensate for the tendency of said end portion to yield under the resistance of the die.

22. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member movable over the bed about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed, and means comprising toggles connected respectively to opposite ends of said presser member for effecting operative movement of said member toward the bed, the arms of the toggle at the outer end of said member forming a smaller angle with each other than the arms of the togglc at the other end of said member, and means for imparting straightening movement to said toggles for operating the presser member. 7

23. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member projecting over the bed, toggles for operating said member, and operating means for said toggles, the toggles being constructed and arranged to cause the outer ends of the arms of one toggle to have a greater relative movement than the outer ends of the arms of the other toggle upon a movement of said operating means.

24:. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member projecting over the bed, toggles for operating said member, and operating means for said toggles, the toggles being constructed and arranged to cause the outer ends of the arms of one toggle to have a greater relative movement than the outer ends of the arms of the other toggle upon a movement of said operating means, the toggles being relatively adjustable to vary said relative extents of movement.

2Q. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member projecting over the bed, toggles connected respectively with opposite ends of the presser member for operating said member, and operating means for said toggles, the toggle at the outer projecting end of said presser member being arranged to efi'ect a greater relative movement between the outer ends of its arms upon a movement of said operating means than the toggle at the other end of said member.

26. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cuttingbed, a presser member projecting over the bed, toggles connected respectively with opposite ends of the presser member for operating said member, and operating means for said toggles, the toggle at the outer projecting end of the presser member having its arms arranged at a smaller angle to each other than the arms of the other toggle to increase the relative movement of the outer ends of the arms of the outer toggle upon a movement of said operating means.

27. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, a presser member projecting over the bed, toggles connected respectively with opposite ends of the presser member for operating said member, and operating means for said toggles, the toggle at the outer projecting end of the presser member being adjustable relatively to the other toggle to vary the angle between its arms.

28. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm arranged to project freely over the bed, a presser member supported by said arm, toggle connections between said arm and presser member, and means for operating said toggle connections to effect an op erative movement of the presser member toward the bed, said toggle connections having unequal ranges of effective movement to compensate for the tendency'for different portions of thearm to yield unequally during the operation of the presser member.

29. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm arranged to project freely over the bed, a presser member between said arm and the bed, toggles connected at opposite ends respectively to said arm and presser member, and means for imparting straightening movement to the toggles for moving the presser member toward the bed, said toggles being arranged with their arms in difierent angular relations to compensate by unequal ranges of eflective movement for the tendenc for difl'erent portions of the arm to yie d unequally during the operation of the presser member.

30. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cutting bed, an arm arranged to. project freely over the bed, a presser member between said, arm and the bed, toggles connected at opposite ends respectively to said arm and presser member, one of the toggles being located near the 15 outer end of the arm and another toggle at a distance from said outer end, and operating means for imparting straightening movement to the toggles for moving the presser member toward the bed, said outer toggle being constructed and arranged to cause the outer ends of its arms to have a greater relative movement than the outer ends of the arms of the other toggle upon the movement of said operating means to compensate for the tendency for the outer end portion of the arm to yield during the operation of the presser member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HANNAH ASHTON, Emecutria; of the will of Orrell Ashton. 

